BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Wiggle has begun its 150 mile move from Portsmouth to Wolverhampton, where the distribution centre will now be based.
The firm expects to undertake the majority of the work through August to September, having completed the switch by October. West Midlands native and Wiggle General Manager Andy Urwin, who hails from Walsall, will lead operations at the new site.
The move, two years in the making, has been set up to support scalability in line with Wiggle’s successive years of record-breaking sales and revenue growth. The new site adds 323,000 sq ft of distribution space, three times the size of current warehouse space and roughly four-times the size of Wembley Stadium.
Situated two miles from the M6 and six miles from the M5, the Warehouse boasts 95 lorry parking spaces and 32 loading bays – excellent dual carriageway access enabling Wiggle to compete in the national and international markets through road, rail and air links.
As many as 150 jobs are expected to be created, with Wiggle taking an active roll at this Friday’s Wolverhampton Jobs Fair at the Molineux Stadium to drive its recruitment efforts. With a number of opportunities available for warehouse operatives and team leaders at the new site, the team will be taking initial applications from potential applicants.
A century after opening as a small independent bike shop called Butler Cycles in Portsmouth, Wiggle will remain a presence in the city they are accustomed to calling home with both Wiggle’s Head Quarters and bike business remaining to serve more than one million customers across 70 countries.
According to Nick Pink, Operations Director at Wiggle ‘Over the last three to four years we have seen 15-20 per cent growth, and we are investing in this site to support that level of growth in the future. We are here for the long term."
Wolverhampton City Council economy leader Peter Bilson said: “We have been working closely with Wiggle to make its relocation as smooth as possible, ensuring the conditions are right and offering any support we can in terms of recruitment. This is great news for the city – having a leading national brand like Wiggle making Wolverhampton its home, bringing in further investment and creating many jobs. We hope having a company with sport as its driver will inspire people here to become more active and lead healthy lifestyles. Wiggle’s location to this area will also add to Bilston’s multi-million pound regeneration which will see new homes, leisure and business development.”
The e-tailer has also recently opened a St.Albans based service centre inside a Homebase. A further unit is planned for Milton Keynes Homebase.
